August 10, 2004
3rd Annual WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon, Aug. 27
WEEI, Red Sox & NESN team up to benefit Jimmy Fund
Calling all Boston sports fans. Sports Radio 850 WEEI, together with the Boston Red Sox and New England Sports Network (NESN), is hosting its 3rd Annual WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon on Friday, Aug. 27, at Fenway Park.
Two special events at Fenway's .406 Club will accompany the daylong broadcast, which will be simulcast on NESN. The broadcast will highlight all of Boston's Major League sports teams - the Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Bruins. The star-studded guest line-up will also include the real heroes - the patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic, and the doctors and nurses who are devoted to fighting cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
WEEI morning co-hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan will moderate a special question-and-answer "How to Build a Champion" session over breakfast with New England's top general managers from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The panel includes Theo Epstein, general manager of the Red Sox; Scott Pioli, New England Patriots vice president of Player Operations; Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics executive director of Basketball Operations, and Mike O'Connell, vice president and general manager of the Boston Bruins.
From noon to 1:30 p.m., WEEI's Dale Arnold and Bob Neumeier will host a special live luncheon, which will include a panel discussion with current Red Sox players. The event will also include an "insider's" tour of historic Fenway Park, including the famed Green Monster, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Admission to these Boston sports events is $150 for the breakfast, which benefits the Jimmy Fund, and $200 for the lunch, which will benefit the Red Sox Foundation. Fans may also purchase a "Double Play" ticket for $300 per person, which includes both the morning and lunchtime events and tickets to that evening's Red Sox game with Detroit. Tickets are available at www.jimmyfundradio.org or by calling Jenn Capshaw at (617) 632-3861.
"This has become the station's signature fundraising event and our listeners now look forward to it every year," said Jason Wolfe, WEEI director of Programming and Operations. "Over the past two years, we've raised nearly $1.5 million for the Jimmy Fund through the generous outpouring of support from listeners, the business community, our sports teams, and local and national celebrities. Our goal is to raise a minimum of a million dollars this year alone and we're confident that we can surpass that goal."
"NESN is proud to be the presenting sponsor for this great event in support of the Jimmy Fund," said Bill Borson, NESN's vice president of Programming and Production. "Our plan is to provide viewers continuous coverage with a rotation of hosts to include Tom Caron, Don Orsillo, and Dale Arnold. Our coverage will include Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber special features throughout the day, as well as complete coverage on our Red Sox pre and post game shows."
Whether you attend the day's events or not, be sure to tune into WEEI or NESN on Friday, Aug. 27, from 6 a.m. to midnight to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund. Pledges will be taken toll-free at 1-(877) 738-1234 or online at www.jimmyfundradio.org. Throughout the day, announcers will be interviewing past and present sports stars and several Hollywood celebrities including Donald Trump, Michael J. Fox, and other surprise guests.
"It's a truly great day for the Jimmy Fund," added Mike Andrews, chairman of the Jimmy Fund and well-known '67 Red Sox second baseman. "We are thankful for the amazing support of WEEI, NESN, the Red Sox, and all of the celebrities who take the time to appear or call in, and we especially appreciate the thousands of caring people who are listening or watching the show and then call in their pledges. They are all helping to strike out cancer."
Founded in 1948 to raise funds for patient care and the fight against children's cancer, the Jimmy Fund supports the search for new cancer treatments and cures for both adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Ranked as the top cancer hospital in New England, Dana-Farber is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the world's leaders in cancer care and research. Through its support of the Jimmy Fund, the Boston Red Sox - its players, its management, its ownership, and its many fans – have contributed mightily to save lives, find cures, and dramatically change the quality of life for those facing cancer in New England and around the world.
